(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) is calling on the federal government to provide desperately needed interim and retroactive financial assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) while the Canada Disability Benefit is in limbo. In a letter to MP Bonita Zarrillo, the BCCLA urges her to continue to pressure government to provide assistance to PWD as a matter of prioritizing their Charter rights.

The BCCLA is deeply concerned after hearing from a grassroots group of PWD about their lived experiences and hardships, especially from those who are trying to survive on disability assistance as their only source of income. From struggling to maintain housing or afford food because of the soaring cost of living, to barriers to accessing comprehensive healthcare including medical equipment, accessibility devices, pharmacare, dental, vision, palliative, long-term, and mental healthcare, to not being able to adequately care for dependents or companion animals, the situation is dire, undignified, isolating, and wears away at the mind, body, and spirit.

The Government of Canada must prioritize financial assistance for PWD to protect their rights to life, liberty, and security of the person, and equality under sections 7 and 15 of the Charter respectively, as well as to uphold its commitment to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Media Statements:

“Homelessness and unsafe housing caused me to develop agoraphobia, bulimia and increased my depression. We need greater financial assistance, expanded mental health and addictions access nationwide, housing that is safe and affordable. Provincial governments are sitting on so much money and have been ignoring housing, healthcare (other than privatization) and adequate disability support. This creates cycles of homelessness, hospitalization, and costs exponentially more in the long run.”

– Mitchell Tremblay, The #Pwdcast

“It is beyond reasonable and insulting to people’s intelligence, to not see the Canada Disability Benefit dollars flowing yet. Those not being able to eke out an existence are being left to painfully and slowly deteriorate. It is downright cruel.”

– Hubert van Niekerk, Interim Executive Director, Every Canadian Counts